I heard from a little birdie that Lil Rich quit Tatum and started his own shop, anybody else have any info on this?

WTF!!! I want some info so I know where to take my car.

10 pages...




(I've never got to do that ^^)

Nice first posts

I'll believe it only if I hear it from the horses mouth! Or if the Ronco's confirm it.

1st post...hmmmmm.

many know that my wife and his wife are cousins. he and his family are very close to me and my family. he set me up with my wife.

HE IS STARTING HIS OWN COMPANY.
i wish him all the best. i hope he only takes tatum custermers and not mine

i look foward to working with him and his business

good luck little rich i know you can do it

This sounds like the Orange County Choppers drama.......

Excuse me and the thread jack, but I need your paypal address to send you an invoice. Your freakin avatar made me spray beer all over my keyboard. THANKS! LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Damn dude, X2 on your avi...total mind eff*!

If true, this is bad news for Tatum. Little Rich is the shiz over there.

.. I know Tatum car's pretty well. They're definately one of the elite builders I respect, but I know nothing about the owners/workers, organization, etc. Is this like the owner's son or something?

.. and whatever happened with the Tatum boating accident?.. just curious. Seemed like a tradgedy. Even if there's no fault, there's usually a suit.

Does anyone actually still watch that chopper show? I think the old man is probably an ego maniac and is/was screwing his son (out of the money, not being open about the company books,etc.). The son, JR, seemed to have the creativity that made them successful. His brand, JR. Designs lacks the coolness of the OC Chopper logo and huge store.

My take away is that, even if you find sobriety (like Dad did) doesn't fix what's eff*ed up in your head. You could quite possibly still be a turd.

Blither over.

abc

That's a crazy a$$ Avatar fo sho!!

^^X2

Must be getting close to summer.....

like every good business, there is always competition. High five for entrepreneurial risks. No risk no reward, good luck little Rich.

Did anyone else read TOR's post. Its pretty clear he left and started his own business.

Not a father/son thing. They are both named Rich, one just happens to be bigger than the other, so the term "Big Rich" and "Little Rich" stuck. When you call and ask for Rich, they'll ask you which one? Big or Little.

If true I would have NO issues taking my car to Little Rich, that guy knows his stuff, and has bent over backwards for me many times.

Boat incident- Big Rich HAD NOTHING TO DRINK, NO ALCOHOL IN HIS SYSTEM. How i understand it, 2 complete drunks in 2 other boats were effing off racing. One boat almost hit the shore, he quickly corrected and turned right into the path of Big Rich, who was doing about 25-30, obviously could not stop in time. I hear he actually slowed down from 35-40(point being he was not drive fast or reckless) prior to the incident trying to purposely avoid the 2 idiots just in case they did something stupid. Tragedy for sure.

I still watch American Chopper when my dvr picks it up. Dad is an ego maniac for sure....

Regardless, I still need to hear it from the horses mouth.

True.

Yes, it is true. I did leave Tatum to start my own venture - there are no hard feelings either direction between me and Big Rich, just decided it was time to do my own thing for personal reasons.I thank all the people who have shown me support and good wishes and hope to provide top notch work to anyone looking.
Thanks, Richard Huizinga
AKA - Little Rich

Just left Tatum from picking up Aarons car. Was going to come back on here and confirm, but who better to get the info from than the source itself.

Congrats Rich, good luck. Let us know where the new shop is, what services, and what you will be doing. Sandcars, Race Cars???

No worries!

I thought it would be a funny one.

Good luck on your venture. The majority of the top builders/fabricators all started at other shops before they ventured out on there own.

Almost forgot, if anyone needs to get in touch with me my number is 623-764-2929.
Thanks, Rich

Good luck to you and your new venture!

db

Having done business personally with Rich Huizinga aka Little Rich - I can tell you my personal experience was awesome. A year or so ago Rich had a Used - Freshly rebuilt 402 Stroker LS2 for sale that I found advertised on DuneBuggy.com he and I had several telephone conversations over a holiday weekend and he provided me a grocery list of parts that went into the re-build as well as some pictures. He had an opportunity to sell it to someone for more money that caled Rich a day after I told him I would buy it. How I found out was - This other buyer ended up calling me about my advertised motor that I had for sale and this buyer told me his story, WOW Rich is a Man with Integrity and stood by his word on a handshake - mind you no money had traded hands either, it was all an agreed price of $9500 over the phone and we didn't know each other at all. We made our verbal aggreement memorial weekend and I mailed him sight unseen a $1000 as a good faith deposit the following week. Many of my friends thought I was nuts. Anyways I wasn't able to get to AZ to pickup and finalize my engine purchase until 4th of July weekend. WOW is all I can say - I asked him to set me up as a complete turn key engine setup since I was upgrading and needed Computer, Headers, Fuel Pump, and Bigger Fuel Filters, Engine Adapter with the New 9" KEP Double Disc Clutch setup - everything was as promised the Engine and all the new parts - and to my surprise he had the engine connected to a running stand so that I could listen to it run and see the oil presure all before loading it up to bring home to California. Great Guy to to Business With Call Rich at 623-764-2929.

hopefully lil rich excells in getting his own customers. and leaves tatums previous customers alone now that would be professional buisness practices cheers and good luck to all

Fairly common for customers to go different directions when a company splits... Nothing unprofessional about that, just lets you know who the better man was..

no arguement here never new lil rich was a buisness partner

I love this statement wouldn't it be up to Tatum to secure its current customer base.....by.....I don't know staying competative.... I can tell I have only once talked with little Rich and he treated me with respect even when he relized I was just getting ideas on how to finish my build and was not going to buy much more than some tabs.....

LMFAO!!!! Are you serious??? Lets dig up some of your old posts where YOU attempted to steal Tatum customers. LOL...

On a side note, talked to some "in the know" peeps this weekend, I hear Little Rich is already very busy. Good for him. He does great quality work, and is a great guy to boot. Good to see we have more and more quality options...

km duner you need some class

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Im sorry... edit to add good luck lil Rich!!!!!!!!!!

HUH???? this makes NO sense. Perhaps its the lack of punctuation. Either way. You are correct, I do talk my fair share of shit, right along with all the other experts here. However, I'm still trying to figure out in my post where I "talked shit", I'm simply stating the obvious, calling them as I see them if you will.

Additionally, I've been a member here for a long long time. I've made a ton of friends on and off this forum who I've bent over backwards to help in various situations. Im pretty sure that not all of my 2000 or so posts, are all shit talking. 1500 sounds about right...... give me a little credit...

Well since you edited your post, I feel compelled to reply to this one as well. This topic is about Little Rich leaving Tatum to start his own company. Everyone to respond thus far has had NOTHING but good words about Rich, and tons of well wishes. You on the other hand reply with "]hopefully lil rich excells in getting his own customers. and leaves tatums previous customers alone".

I tell you what, how about we go halves on that "class" you speak of, maybe we can get a 2 for 1 discount.

Km, I think you jumped the gun and didn't understand what Dale said. He said he hopes little rich is successful in retaining his own customers and doesn't resort to soliciting Tatum’s existing customers, what’s wrong with that? It is one thing for people to solicit him for business and it is another thing for him to solicit his previous employer’s customers. Little Rich was paid for his time and paid to service Tatum's customers. I think you will agree it is totally different than two companies competing for business.

If he is as good as everyone says he is then I am sure he will have no problem building his own client base. I might have to give him a call. I need some service work done.

As Dale said "cheers and good luck to all".

Couldn't agree more. My original post was somewhat of a joke dating back to the infamous "gunning for you el supremo" thread where Dale had suggested that the "Tatum guys" bring their money to Racer. Guess he didn't see it that way and chose to call me out, then call me classless. None the less, no skin off my back, this is the internet and I could give a F what people say about me.

Oh, and Rich is that good, and like posted before, I hear he's already quite busy. Good for him, well deserved.

I can vow for KMDuner, he's a stand up guy who's not afraid to lend a hand when needed, thats for sure!! I think we should just leave it at this...."To Rich Huizinga (Lil Rich) we wish you much success in your new business adventure."

So where is the new shop already ! ?

Good luck Rich!. Only been in tatum a few times and Lil Rich was real nice. Now that he is gone I have no reason to go over there. He was the only one that didn't rub me wrong. Good luck and were you at.

Good luck to you Rich. Is there others that work at Tatum. Seems every time I called I was handed to little Rich to answer my questions or help me when pricing something. Wish you the best.

There are others that work for Tatum, but none that knew more about the everyday workings and general information than Little Rich. Big Rich is going to have to step up now (which I hear he has). Lets all keep in mind that this was a amacible split between them and there is no bad blood.

From what I understand the shop is of Miller Rd., just south of I-10. Perfect for dropping the car off for service on the way home from a trip.

km duner is your 2nd profession a hairdresser by chance . hahahahaha j/k

Nope, esthetician! Let me know when you're ready for your next bikini wax...

Im ready now!

http://youtu.be/sLB-uMPj27s

SCU mafia for life!...LOL.. Takes stones to start your own business. You live n' die by your own decisions and Mommy is only there to dry your tears (she most likely won't give you money).

abc

I went to Tatum 3 times and was ignored 3 times. Best of luck to you lil Rich.